Abigail
AB-i-gayl /ˈæb.ɪ.ɡeɪl/
Meaning of Abigail
Abigail comes from the Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (Avigayil): avi ('my father') + gil ('joy, rejoicing'). In the Hebrew Bible, Abigail is the wife of King David (1 Samuel 25), described as both wise and beautiful. The name has been used in English continuously since the Reformation.
Current popularity of Abigail
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #18 |
Notable bearers of Abigail
Abigail (Hebrew Bible); Abigail Adams (US First Lady); Abigail Breslin.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Abigail — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31